Former President Donald Trump said he was “supposed to be dead” and described the “miracle” that he was still alive during a Sunday interview. The interview took place just a day after Trump was shot in his right ear by a would-be assassin at a major rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
In an interview with The New York Post while flying to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Trump described Saturday’s assassination attempt as a “very surreal experience” that almost ended his life.
“The doctor at the hospital said he never saw anything like this, he called it a miracle,” Trump said. “I’m not supposed to be here, I’m supposed to be dead.”
The New York Post reported that Trump was wearing a large white bandage over his right ear throughout Sunday’s interview. The former president explained that if he had not had his head slightly turned to the right to read a chart about illegal immigration, he would have likely been killed by the shooter. However, due to Trump’s position, the bullet only struck his ear, causing blood to be splattered across his cheek and forehead.
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According to The New York Post, Trump said he wanted to keep speaking to his supporters at Saturday’s rally but that Secret Service agents informed him it was not safe and that he had to be transported to a hospital. The former president said the Secret Service agents were like “linebackers” as they quickly swarmed the stage after the would-be assassin fired multiple shots.
The New York Post said Trump elaborated on what happened as agents rushed him off the stage and he was heard saying, “Wait, I want to get my shoes.” The former president told The New York Post, “The agents hit me so hard that my shoes fell off, and my shoes are tight.”
Trump commended the Secret Service agents for protecting him and for taking down the shooter, who was located on a roof approximately 130 yards from the rally stage. “They took him out with one shot right between the eyes,” he said.
“They did a fantastic job,” Trump added. “It’s surreal for all of us.”
Trump explained that the doctor at the local hospital admitted that he had never seen anyone survive being shot by an AR-15 rifle. In light of that, Trump said, “By luck or by God, many people are saying it’s by God I’m still here.”
Trump also said in a Truth Social post that it was “God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening” at Saturday’s rally.
